Counterbalanced extractor



Jan. 25, 1955 C. F. EMMERT ET AL COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR OriginalFiled Nov. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1955 c. F. EMMERTET AL COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR original Filed'Nov. 9, 194e 4Sheets-Sheet 2 W am@ m@ ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1955 c. F. EMMERT ET Al.2,700,473

COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR Original Filed Nov. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEYS Jan- 25, 1955 c. F. EMMl-:RT ET AL 2,700,473

COUNTERBALANCED EXTRACTOR Original Filed Nov. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.OOOOOO'-o-oo o-` ooooooooooa/ 76 INVENToRs:

6762- fofz mmewf 'TTORNEYS United States Patent COUNTERBALAN CEDEXTRACTOR Clayton F. Emmett and William H. Stoiider, Newton,

Iowa, assignors to Automatic Washer Company, Newton, Iowa, :icorporation of Delaware riginal application November 9, 1946, Serial No.709,050. Divided and this application December 4, 1950, Serial No.199,028

6 Claims. (Cl. 210-76) The present invention relates to washing machineand apparatus in general utilizing relatively high speed tubs or basketsparticularly in the water extraction cycle thereof and provides a meansfor counterbalancing olf center and unbalanced loads which producevibrationV and structural strains which are both troublesome andannoying. The present design may be applied to any apparatus adapted forrelatively high speed rotation carrying mixed loads including fluids andwherein the loads are capable of shifting to cause an unbalanced`relationship introducing offset inertia stresses which introduce theunwanted vibration. y

This application is a division of applicationy Serial No. 709,050, ledNovember 9, 1946, now Patent No. 2,534,194, assigned to the sameassignee as the present invention.

One of the main objects, therefore, is to provide a washer, preferablyof the automatic cycle type having a high speed rotating tub or basketadapted for water extraction during a certain period of the cycle, andto provide means which reduces the vibration inthe mainframe and cabinetof the machine to a minimum under loaded conditions during acceleration,full spinning speed, and during deceleration. By the introduction of themecha-V nism for counteracting the unbalanced conditions, the cost ofinstallation to the consumer is considerably reduced inasmuch as it isnot necessary to bolt the machine rigidly to a floor or to secure such amachine to a prepared foundation.

Another object of the present invention istoy provide a means which iscapable of counterbalancing varying off center loads up to the capacityof the load handled by the tub or basket of any type of spinnerregardless of the kind of apparatus used for agitation or whether suchapparatus is present or not. With the proposed construction, thecounterbalancing force varies with the off-center loads as the lattervary so that the counterbalancing means and mechanism is adapted toexert a relatively small offset counterbalancing lforce when the machineload is relatively Well balanced, and bythe saine token, if the machineload `is greatly out of balance, the

counterbalancing apparatus also exerts a proportionately greatercounterbalancing f orce reducing the offset and out of balance loads toa minimum.

The present construction is such that it is eapableofv eliminating allof the costly balancing rings and mechanisms which are found on sometypes of washing machines and other apparatus on the market for thepurpose of eliminating vibration and shaking `due to off center loads.Some of these machines are utilizing `rings that weigh from fifty to onehundred pounds which are costly per se and which obviously addtremendously t the weight of a machine so as to require additional careand provisions in packing and shipping and also require additional helpin handling and installation.

It is another object of the present invention to utilize a portion ofthe liquid load in the tub or basket to provide the necessarycounterbalancing means, and in the quantities which are directlyproportional to the magnitude of the unbalanced load, using only anadditional jacket, chamber, or other receptacle for confining suchcoiinterbalancing fluid which adds substantially nothing to the totalweight of the machine considering the entire weight of the unit as awhole in contrast with the additional jacket used for thecounterbalancmg purposes. With the means employed, the load on the motorand the unitis less during the acceleration of the rotating tub.

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or basket in contrast with the use of the heavy balancing rings employedin some washers, and also the load upon the braking mechanism to slowdown and stop the spinning tub or basket is also considerably less inthatl the rotational inertia is not as great in the present light Weightconstruction as it would be in machines using heavy rings or otheradditional shiftable weights for counterbalancing purposes. All thistends to reduce the time cycle since the acceleration to spinning speedis accomplished in less time and the deceleration of therotatingmechanism from spinning speed to a full stop is alsoaccomplished in less time reducing this portion of the time cycle.

The reduction of weight of the tub and structure is of considerableimportance whenever a washing machine utilizes an oscillating tub as inthe casewith the machine disclosed to portray the present invention. Thebalancing arrangement of the present design comprises a portion of thetub, and due to its light weight4 construction, suchy means does notplace a heavy load on the transmission during the oscillation of thetub. l't can also be stated that higher extracting speeds are capableWithin the limits of the time cycle with a rela'- tively light weighttub structure in contrast to a structure which would be much heavier tocorrespondingly iiicrease the time of acceleration and deceleration ofthev rotating units.

Another object of the present invention is to provide` automatic meansfor draining the water out of the counterbalancing jacket of the tub asthe speed of the latter reduces during deceleration, fluid feed to thecounterbalancing mechanism being also in proportion to the accelerationand increased speed until the running speed of a predetermined rate isobtained. This arrangement allows smooth acceleration and smooth de#celeration which are additional features highly desirable in aconstruction using a tub or basket as a spinning means of extractingwater.

The design of the present style using the tub and counterbalancing meansin combination is suchvthat the tub may be produced at a reasonablemanufacturing cost. It is only necessary that the tub be ygenerallyconcentric and it is not necessary that the tub and its associatedrotating parts be statically or dynamically balanced as is necessary inmany of the other machines on vthe market.

It is another object of the present invention to mount the tub structureupon a rotating shaft which is vertically disposed in suitable bearingsof resilient types that will permit the shaftto wobble or move through apredetermined orbit.

ln addition to the object immediately above, this ma'- chiiie includes asnubbing device which counteracts abrupt changes brought about throughunbalanced loads to permit time for the balancing means lto becomethoroughly effective. Such snubbing means absorbs energy to actelfectively in counteracting any extreme orbital movements of the shaftand tub or basket. Another object of the present invention is to providean oscillating tub having vanes or baffles which may be formedintegrally with the tub walls or which may be independently constructedto be inserted and removed from the tub for washing and cleaningpurposes. Both such structures are built of light-weight material toreduce to a minimum the effect that such structures may have upon theex-` traction and counterbalancing mechanism of the unit.

All other objects and advantages relating to a counterbalancing meansfor a washing tub or basket shall hereinat'ter appear in the followingdetailed description having reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a' part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical axial cross-sectional View of a preferredconstruction of washing machine embodying the principles set forth bythe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the washer illustrated in Fig. l andsubstantially viewed along the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view diagrammatically illustrating the tubcarrying an, off balanced load andthe approximate orbit and orbital paththrough` which this tub would gyrate without counterbalancing features;

Fig. 4 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 3 but illustrating thecounterbalancing means of the present invention effectively coacting anunbalanced load within the tub to substantially reduce the orbitalmovement of the shaft and tub to a practical and negligible minimum;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the spinning mecha nism including thetub, drive shaft and resilient supporting mechanisms therefor;

Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view of the tub showing a removable type ofvane for agitating the clothes within the tub;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the vanes shownin Fig. 6 and substantially along the line 7-7 therein;

Fig. 8 is a face view of the vane as viewed from the axial center of thetub but removed therefrom.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine is illustrated somewhatdiagrammatically as an automatic cycle machine of the cabinet typehaving an outer decorative and ornamental cabinet 1 supported uponsuitable legs 2 having non-skid pads or feet 3 for steadying the cabinetupon a surface supporting the same. The power means comprises a motor 4suitably supported upon the cabinet walls and adapted for driving a belt5 by means of the shaft 6 carrying a pulley 7, the belt 5 beingconnected to a pulley 8 forming the driving element of a transmission 9which is of a conventional type adapted for either oscillating the tubshaft 10 or for driving the same unidirectionally at a relatively highspeed for water extraction purposes. A brake band 11 encircles thehousing of the transmission 9 and is controlled by an electricalsolenoid 12.

The particular type of transmission herein disclosed is more or lessdiagrammatically shown since it actually forms no part of this inventionexcepting to furnish a means for driving the shaft 10 in one directionor acting to oscillate the same. A brief explanation of the workingfunctions thereof is submitted. The solenoid 12 normally sets the band11 into operative braking position holding the casing of thetransmission 9 in fixed position. When this condition prevails, themotor 4 is energized to rotate in one direction driving the belt 5 andpulley 8 to operate the internal mechanism of the transmission which isdesigned to oscillate the shaft 10 at this time. The spinning cycle isstarted by releasing the brake band 11 and by simultaneously reversingthe direction of operation of the motor 4. The transmission 9 containsan overrunning type of clutch coacting with the pulley shaft and whichis adapted to actively engage the shaft when the motion of the latter isin one direction. This acts to rotate the pulley shaft and thetransmission 9 bodily so that the same rotate together at the same speedand at a speed at which the motor 4 drives such elements through themeans of the belt drive 5. The overrunning clutch is of a centrifugaltype which eliminates initial shock or torque so as to permit the entiretransmission and the drive shaft of the tub to reach a gradual spinningspeed without overloading the driving motor 4. The various operations ofthe motor 4 and the solenoid 12 and the other working parts of themachine such as the mixing valves for hot and cold water and thedraining valves are all solenoid controlled and operated from a suitablemaster timer which automatically controls the entire cycle of operationof the machine and its individual operating mechanisms. Obviously, suchcyclic functions may be manually controlled or such manual controls maybe interposed into the automatic timing system for exible operation ofthe machine.

The tub or basket 13 is suitably secured and carried upon the upper end14 of shaft 10 by the securing means 15. The lower end of shaft 1t) issupported and rides in a bearing 16 suitably carried in a flexiblerubber mounting 17 secured to the casing 18 which is fixedly supportedby a spider 19 having its ends secured to the walls of the cabinet 1.With this particular arrangement, the shaft 10 together with itssupported tub 13 may flex out of the normal vertical position thereofalthough the bearing means supporting the lower end thereof is normallycapable of maintaining the shaft 10 and tub in a vertical relation withrespect to the balance of the machine as indicated in full lines in Fig.5. The dot and dash axis also signifies this true vertical relationshipwhile the dotted lines angling with respect to the bearing 16 showoff-center axis towhich the tub, etc., may lean in rotating an out ofbalance load without counterbalancing. This structure actually isanalogous to a spinning top and gyroscopic action would tend to holdthis unit vertical or tend to move same into a vertical position as adirect aid to the counterbalancing mechanism.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, a peripheral sump or drain chamber 20is formed beneath the tub 13 by means of the annular base 21 having theinner peripheral upstanding flange 22 and an outer peripheral upstandingflange 23, the latter being suitably welded or otherwise secured to thewalls of the cabinet 1. Any convenient type of drain conduit such as 24which is suitably valve controlled communicates with the chamber 20 fordraining the water out of the sump into suitable connections todischarge such water into the normal house water draining system.

A snubbing mechanism generally indicated at 25 connects at a point nearthe upper end of the shaft 10 and cooperates with the under surface ofthe annular base 21 of the sump for counteracting any forces which wouldtend to throw shaft 10 olf of its normal vertical axis of rotation aspermitted by the bottom bearing 16 and its mounting 17.

This snubbing mechanism may be of various designs and may be constructedto best fit the problems of a particular machine. In the present design,as illustrated in Fig. 1, this snubbing device is made in the form of across providing a spider, two of its arms 26 and 27 being shown in Fig.l, and such arms having depending ends 28 and 29 respectively. Springs30 are connected at 31 between the lower portions of the depending armends 28 and 29 and are fastened to the under side of the annular base 21to normally hold and urge the snubbing means upwardly and in thevertical direction of the machine. Each of the spider arms such as 26and 27 are provided with studs 32 carrying pads 33 faced withanti-friction material such as 34 which is adapted to press against theunder surface of the annular base 21 for frictional contact therewithand are so maintained through the instrumentality of the springs 30.

The central portion of the cross or spider providing the arms 26 and 27of the snubbing device 25 includes a housing 35 which confines anannular rubber bearing 36 that is molded to the shaft bearing 37 so thata flexible connection is established between the bearing 37 and the armsof the snubbing device 25.

Thus, with the above described snubbing device 2S, the latter is capableof maintaining the shaft 10 in substantially vertical position renderingopposition to any lateral forces which would tend to move such shaft outof coincidence with its normal vertical axis of rotation which actionis, of course, supplemented by the inherent resiliency and tendency'ofthe lower flexible bearing 16 to maintain the shaft 10 in verticalposition at all times.

The tub structure 13 is divided into two chambers 38 and 39 of which theformer is the washing chamber of the machine and the latter is thechamber utilized for counterbalancing off-center loads as willhereinafter be described. Chambers 38 and 39 are dened and formed bymeans of a double tub comprising an inner tub 40 and an outer tub 41concentrically arranged and fabricated to be connected concentricallywith respect to the vertical drive shaft 10 and to be rigidly supportedand connected thereto.

The inner tub 40 is riveted at 42 to an annular coving 43 providing acentral opening 44 disposed beneath and in line with the opening 45 inthe cabinet 1, clothing and other articles to be washed or removed fromthe v machine being passed through the openings 44 and 45.

40 and axially thereto.

Coving 43 has an annular depending ange 46 which is adapted to engage arubber sealing ring 47 carried by the upper edge 48 of the outer tub 41so that the inner and outer tubs 40 and 41 through the sealing means 47actually form a jacket which has been previously defined as thecounterbalancing chamber 39.

A plurality of vanes 49, 50 and 51, as seen in Figs. l and 2are securedto the inner wall of the tub 40 and in spaced relationship about theaxial center of the tub These vanes may be separate pieces or may beintegrally formed to be secured by the fastening means 15 adjacent thebottom of the tub while the upper edges of the vanes are provided withears 52 which coincide with and extend into bulges or bosses 53 shapedand formed to snugly receive the ears as best shown in IFigs. 1 and 2.It should also be noted that the outer tub 41 is provided with a conicaldependingA baile S4 connected with a bearing ring 55 for engaglng thekshaft to provide further stability between shaft 10 and the tubstructure.

Referring to Fig. l, it should be4 noted that thehinner tub 40 isprovided a plurality of openings 56 adjacent the upper edge thereof andbeneath the annular covlng 43. Openings 56 therefore form communicatingmeans providing passageways between the inner washing chamber of the tub40 and theouter annular jacket chamber 39. As seen in Fig. 2, aplurality of openings 57 are located annularly in the bottom of theouter tub 41 and substantially in thev positions. indicated in Figs. land 2. A plurality of baffles 58y having suitable openings 59 thereinare radially secured tothe upstanding wall of the outer tub 41 andsubstantially in the positions indicated in Figs. l and 2'. The annularopenings 57 are preferably locatedV radially inwardly with respect totheinner edges of the baflies 58, and the numberv of baffles utilized maybe best determined through they capacity of the machine and also throughother factors which may vary within certain predetermined limits ofoperation.

In the machinel illustrated in Figs. l and 2, it is contemplate'dl usingsix pounds of dry clothes and nine to ten gallons of water forperforming the washing cycle. It is further anticipated that theoscillation of the washing tub should be approximately sixty strokes perminute and the tub should oscillateV in a sixty to seventy degree arc.Obviously, the number of strokes and the degree 0l oscillation are bothvariables but the example given works well with a normal washing cycleof. this kind.

Also', during the washing operation,l the opening 45 in the cabinet isnormally closed bya suitable cover. While the tub is agitating theclothes through the action of the vanes 49, 50 and 51, the water andarticles ofv clothing are washed in their normal-,fashion and anysplashing out of the tub structure 1'3 is normally counteracted by thedownturned lip 60'of the covingV 43 merely as a means to conserve thesuds and wash water inasmuch as any water passing throughl the opening44 or splashing therefrom willv merely run over' the sides of the tubstructure 13 andl back into the sump or chamber 20 which is annularlydisposed in proper location as indicated in Fig. l

for easily recelving and catching all' of such accidentally dischargedwater or suds.

During the washing cycle, it is obvious that counterbalancing will be'unnecessary and that for all normal indications the rotationaloscillation of shaft 10 and the basket' or tub 13"' will be about thenormal vertical axial center line of the shaft 10; ltis only during thehigh speed spinning cycle of the machine that unbalanced forces areencountered by reasony of the unequal distribution ofy the articles ofvclothing within the tub 4t) and one such unbalanced condition isindicated in Figs. 3 and 4- wherein the articles of clothing shown at-61 and 62 are all concentrated against one portion of the tub wall andapproximately within an arc of 100 degrees thereof. Figs. 3V and 4 showextreme conditions of this kind inasmuch as through they normal actionof the plurality of oscillating vanes and due to the normal distributioncreated by the agitation thereof during the washing of the clothes, mostof the articles of clothing will be fairly well distributed within thebody of the wash water. At the beginning of the spinning cycle, sucharticles o'f clothing will immediately be centrifugally moved radiallyoutwardly with respect to the axial center of operation of the machineand will generally drape' orcling to the wallsof the inner tub 40 with areasonable degree of. general distribution. The conditions shown inFigs. 3 and 4' would mostly occur when one garmentor one` pieceI ofclothing is being washed and such article' would naturally iind a moreconcentrated area to cling to duringthe spinning cycle. Normally, whenthe tub is iilled with six` pounds of dry clothing, the extremeconditionsV shown invFigs. 3 and 4 will not prevail and more balancedconditions will result.

With the tub iilled to capacity with a plurality of articles ofclothing, it is obvious that some pieces are larger in size and thatsome absorb and hold more water, so that even with the normal regulardistribution of the samev about the periphery ofthe tub, the heavierarticles will cause theV unbalanced condition which will lead tovibration and which should be eliminated. The counterbalancing means ofthe presentinvention functions to alleviate suchk unbalanced conditionsand reduces the oi center and unbalanced loads substantially to aminimum to create a smooth andY relatively quiet spinning actionl forwater extraction from` the articles after the end of the washing cycleand prior to the rinsing cycles. Obviously, one or more rinsing cyclesmay be introduced into the complete cycle of the washing machine whereinthe clothing is again agitated through the oscillation of the tub, andafter the addition of rinse water, the latter will be subsequentlyextracted from the clothing by spinning of the tub prior to the removalof the clothing for hanging on the line or transferring the same to aclothes drying heater.

Assuming the tub is fully balanced, as would be the case in Fig. l withonly water therein with the water indicated by the reference numeral 63,the beginning of the spinning cycle will cause the surface of the waterto assume the parabolic shape shown in Fig. l with the water building upalong the outer peripheral edges of the tub` 40 due to centrifugalforce. This action is accentuated by an upward flare of the walls of tub40. This quickly brings the water to a level where it will spill throughthe openings 56 at the beginning of the spin and be ejected into thejacket or counterbalancing chamber 39 shown in Fig. l. In the case wherethe tub and its associated mechanisms are perfectly balanced, suchoverflow distribution of the water shall be equal about the entireperiphery of the tub 41 and such water shall be held from churning inthe tub 41 by means of the plurality of batlles 53 which maintain thisejected water in spinning relation with respect to the balance of thetub structure as do the vanes 49, 50, and 51 in the tub 40. It should benoted that the chamber 39 tapers outwardly and downwardlyV from theopenings 56 and that the greater portion of the chamber 39 is locatedadjacent the bottom in the regiony of load or clothesl zone of the tub40.

Attention is also directed to the chamber 39 and its capacity forcarrying the counterbalancing fluid in relation to the load capacity ofthe tub, Such counterbalancing chamber must have a capacity to retainenough water by weight normally required to offset the maximum amount of@if center load which could possibly occur during the normal operationofa tub loaded to capacity and throughout the spinning cycle. When the tub40 is accelerated, the water is thrown first into the balance ring 41where the proper quantity to balance the rotating unit is retained andthe additional water contained in tub 40 is discharged on through thebalance ring 41 to the chamber 20 where it is then carried out thedrain. When the rotating unit starts to slow down, the water is releasedfrom the balance ging 41 and gradually ows into chamber 20 and into theram.

Whenever the articles comprising the load in the tub 40 are thrown oifbalance, the center of gravity of such load shifts and shaft 10 is movedagainst the retarding action of the snubbing device 25 and against thenatural resiliency of its support and off of the normal vertical axialcenter of rotation thereof. This will cause the upper' end 14 of theshaft 10 to gyrate through an orbital path as a natural accommodation ofthe off center load and as best seen in Fig. 5. The water in the tubwill be centrifugally passed or ejected through the openings 56 by thevortex action obtained and shown in Fig. l, such water automaticallyspilling into chamber 39. The water will then concentrate in chamber 39to occupy a certain arcuate portion thereof with a weight of water 64substantially as shown in Fig. 4 to definitely oifset the unbalancedweight of the clothes 62 so that the orbital movement of the shaft 10 isreduced to a minimum while the tub is spinning to extract the water fromthe clothes. Changes in the off center or unbalanced load condition willalso bring about changes in the concentration of water in thecounterbalancing chamber 39.

With. a perfectly balanced load the annulus formed between balance ring41 and the wall of container 40 is filled with water to the extent ofthe curled-in portion at the lower end of balance ring 41. In otherwords, there is a uniform sheetv of water held against the outer wall ofthe balance ring 41 by centrifugal force when a balanced load isspinning.

As the unbalance in the tub 40 is increased, the amountl of waterretained in balance ring 41 is decreased, and a portion of the annuluswhich coincides with the unbalance is void of water.

In view of this, the quantity of water retained in the@4 ring decreasesas theunbalance increases; however, thewater is highly concentrated inthe balance ring at a point diametrically opposed to or in a position tocounterbalance the unbalanced load in the tub.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the normal center of gravity of the machine andits load if equally balanced would coincide with the normal axial centerof rotation 65 of the shaft 1t) and the supported tubs 40 and 41.Assuming balanced conditions, the entire tub and its load would rotateabout the point 65 as an axis which is the normal operating axis of theshaft 10, and no vibration would result because of balanced conditions.Should theloose load shift into the position 61 in Fig. 3 which is theextreme position (although the articles shown do not represent sixpounds of dry clothing) the center of gravity of the load would shift tothe point 66. Thus, a wobble of the spinning mechanism about the orbit67 moves the outer tub 41 of the tub unit through the path 68 concentricwith axis 65. Under these conditions, extreme vibration would ensue andif the machine were not anchored to the floor, it would walk or possiblycapsize. If anchored, the frame and other working parts would besubjected to a terrific beating and no operator would be able to standthe noise.

With the use of the counterbalancing system devised, Fig. 4 illustrateshow this off center load can be substantially neutralized with propercontrol and redistribution of the self-contained fluid contents of thewash machine tub unit 13. The centrifugal force induced by the rotatingtub will produce the water vortex 63 causing water to be ejected orspilled through the openings S6 at a relatively low spinning speed. Thewater in chamber 39 will then concentrate and distribute itselfaccording to the ofi center load in the tub early in the spin beforeserious vibration occurs forming an arcuate body on the opposite wall ofthe counterbalancing chamber 39 assuming a general position 64 as shownin Fig. 4. The center of gravity of the total load will therefore neveractually reach the point 66 as indicated in Fig. 4, but the center ofgravity of the total load will only shift to a point 69 traveling in arelatively small orbital path 70.

The gyroscopic action of the entire spinning unit plus the snubbcrmechanism 25 and resilient bearing 16 all act simultaneously to preventany abrupt or great departure of the center of load from the normalrotational axis 65. For all practical purposes, the unit, even with anoff center load, is substantially held in position to rotate upon itsnormal vertical axis of rotation. Actual experiments have shown undertest conditions that by placing a concentrated weight of eight pounds ofsteel on one side of the tub and by spinning the latter at speeds from590 R. P. M. to t 800 R. P. M., that the maximum orbit traveled by shaft10 was held down to of an inch with respect to the normal axis ofrotation. Such extreme conditions will never result in an ordinarynormal washing cycle.

To further enhance weight control and the reduction of centrifugalforces due to olf center load conditions, the entire tub is constructedof aluminum which reduces the weight to such an extent that it does notaffect the operation of the washing machine particularly during thespinning cycles of the complete washing function. Thus, acceleration anddeceleration of the tub structure can be carried out in less time.

As had been previously described, the vanes 49, 50 and 51 may be formedas an integral unit which can be secured to the tub 40 and fixed inplace by the fastening means 15. It is also possible to produce theinner tub 40 in such a manner as to shape the walls thereof toV actuallyprovide vanes duplicating those described as 49, Si) and 51. It isessential in the vanel structure to dispose the same symmetrically aboutthe normal vertical axis of rotation of the entire washing machine andthe spinning unit so that there are no unbalanced weight conditionsprevailing for introducing latent off. center loads.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, this arrangement shown portrays amodified construction wherein three individual vanes 71 may be utilizedwhich can be readily removed from the machine for cleaning purposes.This would allow a simplified cleaning procedure of both the vanes andthe tub itself.

As shown in Fig. 6, each of the vanes 71 provide abutting faces 72 and73 disposed at 120 with respect to each other so that all of the vanes71 are locked in the positions shown in Fig. 6 through the fasteningmeans which is here supplemented by a removable hand Vber means havingthird passage means in the `wall means thereof placed inwardly of thesaid outer nut 74 which holds the vanes 71 in place within the tub andagainst the bottom thereof.

Each of the vanes 71 is provided with the upstanding lugs or ears whichare adapted to set into the bosses 53 which were hereinbefore describedin connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Therefore, the vanes are helddownwardly against the tub and in place therein by means of the hand nut74 and are prevented from rotating through the instrumentality of theears 75 which iit into the bosses or projections 53 formed in the coving43 of the tub structure 13.

It should also be noted that the vanes shown in Figs. 6 to S, inclusive,are provided with anges 76 and 77 which extend generally normal to theface of the vane 71 and are adapted to provide clearance such asindicated at 78 in Fig. 6 between the under surface of the vanes and theadjacent tub wall. The face or surface portion of the vane is alsoprovided with perforations 79 so that the wash water in the tub can passthrough the vane itself and upwardly along the clearance passageways 78between the vane and the tub to eventually reach the upper portion ofthe tub 40 where this water may spill off through the apertures 56 andinto the counterbalancing chamber 29 as previously described inconnection with Figs. 1 and 2.

Vanes such as 71 may be formed of any particular configurationdesirable. In the present construction, the vanes 71 are provided with acentral bulge 80 simulating the bulge on the vanes shown in thepreferred construction, which bulges form the actual agitating portionsof the vanes functioning to wash the clothing within the tub during theoscillation of the entire structure in the same manner as in thepreferred construction.

It is to be understood that other modifications of the design andconstruction of the present washing machine are possible and thatequivalent mechanisms may be substituted in carrying out the principlesof the main concept of the invention. All such changes in the exactform, construction, and combination of parts, shall, therefore, begoverned by the language of the appended claims which define theinvention disclosed and described.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a laundry machine; a tub to be counterbalanced during rotationthereof on a vertical axis, means connected with said tub on the axisthereof for driving said tub in rotation and said tub and said meansbeing laterally movable in response to a condition of unbalance of saidtub during rotation thereof, said tub having vane means thereinrotatable with said tub to synchronize rotation of liquid in said tubwith rotation of the tub, liquid receiving chamber means surroundingsaid tub including the load zone thereof and rigidly connected to thetub to rotate with said tub for receivingliquid centrifugally dischargedfrom said tub, said chamber means having outer wall means adjacent theload zone co-axial with said tub and parallel with the axis of rotationof said tub and bottom wall means extending inwardly from the bottom ofthe outer wall means, said tub having first passage means connecting anupper part of the tub with said chamber means and through which liquidis centrifuged from said tub into said chamber means when said tubreaches a predetermined speed of rotation and said chamber means havingsecond passage means for restricted peripheral ow of liquid thereinrelative to said tub for distribution of liquid in said chamber meansfor continuous counterbalancing of said tub upon lateral movement of thetub during rotation thereof, said chambottom wall means of the chambermeans through which liquid in excess of that required forcounterbalancing said tub discharges, and through which the liquid inthe chamber means discharges when rotation of the tub is halted.

2. In a laundry machine, a clothes accommodating tub adapted forrotation on a substantially vertical axis, means for rotating said tub,means mounting said tub for lateral movement in response to a conditionof unbalance of 80 said tub during rotation thereof, balancing chambermeans rigidly connected with said tub and having an upstanding portionthereof surrounding said tub and extending vertically over acorresponding portion of the outer periphery of said tub, said .chamber.means including an outer wall means spaced radially outwardly from the-tub and extending in substantial concentricity with the tub axis,bottom wall means extending inwardly from the bottom of said outer wallmeans, means for directing centrifuged liquid from the upper portion ofsaid tub into said chamber means when the tub reaches a predeterminedspeed of rotation to provide a supply of counterbalancing liquid in thechamber means, means for restricting peripheral flow of liquid in saidchamber means, all portions ofl said balancing chamber being incommunication to redistribute liquid circumferentially by centrifugalforce from one position in said chamber means to another positiontherein as said tub and chamber means move laterally as a unit inresponse to the presence of a condition of unbalance within said tubduring rotation thereof at effective extraction rotative speeds, wherebyto dispose the center of mass of the balancing liquid to the side of thetub substantially opposite to the center of mass of an unbalancedclothes load in the tub, means providing a confining wall surface at theupper end of said chamber means for preventing egress from said chambermeans of the supply of counterbalancing liquid therein in amountsaffecting balancing of the tub by such supply, and bottom passage meanspositioned inwardly of said outer wall means of the chamber meansthrough which liquid in excess of that required for counterbalancingsaid tub discharges during rotation and through which the liquid in saidchamber discharges when rotation of the tub is arrested.

3. In a laundry machine, a clothes and liquid accommodating tub, meansfor supporting said tub for rotation about a substantially vertical axisand for motion transverse to said axis, means for rotationally drivingsaid tub, balancing chamber means concentric with and securely fastenedto said tub, and having an upstanding portion thereof surrounding saidtub and extending vertically over a corresponding portion of the outerperiphery of said tub, said chamber means comprising outer wall meansand cooperating inwardly extending wall means in the upper and lowerregions thereof sufficient to retain in the chamber a substantial volumeof counterbalancing liquid for balancing purposes at relatively highrotative speeds, the inwardly extending wall means in the upper regionof said chamber means providing a confining wall surface for preventingegress from the chamber means of the volume of counterbalancing liquidtherein in amounts affecting balancing of the tub by such liquid, meansfor receiving and directing liquid centrifuged from said tub to saidbalancing chamber means in sufficient volume for counterbalancingpurposes, means for retarding peripheral flow of liquid in said chambermeans, all portions of said balancing chamber being in communication toredistribute liquid circumferentially by centrifugal force from positionin said chamber means to another position therein as said tub andchamber means move laterally as a unit in response to the presence of acondition of unbalancewithin said tub during rotation at effectiveextraction rotative speeds, whereby to dispose the center mass of thebalancing liquid to the side of said tub substantially opposite to thecenter of mass of an unbalanced clothes load in the tub, and bottompassage means positioned inwardly of said outer wall means and throughwhich liquid in excess of amounts required for counterbalancingdischarges during rotation, and through which the liquid in said chambermeans discharges when rotation of the tub is arrested.

4. In a laundry machine as set forth in claim 3, having resilient meanscontinuously urging the tub and balancing chamber means toward theirnormal center positions.

5. In a laundry machine, a clothes and liquid accommodating tub, meansfor supporting said tub for rotation about a substantially vertical axisand for motion transverse to said axis, means for rotationally drivingsaid tub, balancing chamber means concentric with and securely fastenedto said tub, and having an upstanding portion thereof surrounding saidtub and extending vertically over a corresponding portion of the outerperiphery of said tub, said chamber means comprising outer wall meanswith inwardly extending wall means in the upper and lower regionsthereof sufficient to retain in the chamber a substantial volume ofcounterbalancing liquid for balancing purposes at relatively highrotative speeds, the inwardly extending wall means in the upper regionof said chamber means providing a confining wall surface for preventingegress from the chamber means of the volume of counterbalancing liquidtherein in amounts affecting balancing of the tub by such liquid, meansfor receiving and directing liquid centrifuged from said tub to saidbalancing chamber means in suificient volume for counterbalancingpurposes, means circumferentially spaced around said tub for dividingsaid chamber means into a plurality of compartments, means for retardingperipheral flow of liquid in said chamber means, all of said.compartments being in communication to redistribute liquidcircumferentially by centrifugal force from one position in said chambermeans to another position therein as said tub and chamber means movelaterally as a unit in response to the presence of a condition ofunbalance within said tub during rotation thereof at effectiveextraction rotative speeds, whereby to dispose the center of mass of thebalancing liquid to the side of said tub substantially opposite to thecenter of mass of an unbalanced clothes load in the tub, and bottompassage means positioned inwardly of said outer wall means and throughwhich liquid in excess of amounts required for counterbalancingdischarges during rotation, and through which the liquid in said chambermeans ydischarges when rotation of the tub is arrested.

6. The method of controlling the circulation of washing liquid from aclothes washing machine tub having a concentrically disposed balancingchamber to effect dynamic balance of the tub at effective extractingspeeds,

which method comprises rotating the tube about a subs'tantially verticalaxis at a progressively increasing speed during which the tub isdisplaced laterally in accordance with the out-of-balance centrifugalforces exerted by the clothes within the tub resulting from tubrotation, centrifuging the Washing liquid from the tub and delivering itto the balancing chamber, retaining a suicient supply of said liquid toact as a counterbalancing liquid in the balancing chamber and preventingthe escape from the upper end of the balancing chamber ofcounterbalancing liquid therein in amounts substantially affectingbalancing of the tub by such liquid at extracting speeds whereby tomaintain the supply of counterbalancing liquid in the balancing chambersufcient for peripheral flow redistribution therein in counterbalancingthe clothes load, circumferentiallv redistributing liquid by peripheralHow from one position in the balancing chamber to another positiontherein by application of centrifugal force so as to dispose the centerof mass of said liquid to the side of the tub substantially opposite tothe center of mass of the unbalanced clothes` whereby substantially tocounterbalance the unbalanced clothes load within the tub at effectiveextracting speeds, and retarding the peripheral flow of counterbalancingliquid in the balancing chamber during the circumferentialredistribution thereof in said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

